Earlier this month, a Canadian court ordered the country's refugee board to re-examine the case of another deserter, Joshua Key, whose application for asylum in Canada had been rejected.

BBC: Canada deports US army deserter

But when the United States War Refugee Board approached him about traveling to Budapest to try and save the largest remaining concentration of Jews in Europe, Wallenberg answered that call.

WHITEHOUSE: Secretary of State Hillary Clinton Commemorates Holocaust Days of Remembrance at Marshall Center | The White House

The Immigration and Refugee Board said it was not convinced the men would face persecution if they were sent back to the US. They have said they will appeal against the decision.

BBC: NEWS | Americas | US deserter 'shocked by abuses'

Although the Canadian refugee board found Mr Key credible, it rejected his application, saying that unless his claims of abuse constituted a war crime, they did not justify his desertion from the US army.

BBC: Canada ruling boosts US deserter

Currently, Bernie serves on committees including the Chicago Commission Human Relations (CCHR), the National Asian Pacific Center on Aging (NAPCA) Board, the Illinois Coalition for Immigrant and Refugee Rights (ICIRR) Board, and Council for the Illinois Department on Aging.

WHITEHOUSE: Melinda Wiggins | The White House

After that, Italian authorities arrested him on charges he assaulted officers on board a refugee ship bound for Italy, and was there until his extradition on the U.S. indictment.

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